Lincolnshire grinds to a HALT - 'MOST roads impassable' say police

MILITARY personnel have been deployed in Lincolnshire to help with emergency situations after massive snowfalls brought the county to a standstill with most roads declared impassable and villages in rural areas cut off.

“We are receiving reports that remote villages are totally cut off under 2ft of snow.”

“No major route is without blockage from snow. Our advice is do not travel.”

LINCS POLICE

Snow has blocked the busy A52 between Boston and Skegness in Lincolnshire

As winds picked up overnight, drifting snow caused misery for many motorists - with some parts recording accumulations up to a foot deep.

Police said the A52 had become impassable between Boston and Skegness and warned that officers would not be able to rescue stranded drivers.

The fire service said not even a snowplough was able to get through.

Britain is braced for another day of sub-zero temperatures, icy blasts and blizzard conditions as Storm Emma rolls in from the Atlantic to meet the Beast from the East's icy Russia air and cause further widespread snowfall and bitter temperatures.

A red weather alert remains in place in parts of Scotland and amber warnings have been issued for the north-east of England and the central belt of Scotland, in place between 10am and 8pm on Thursday, and for south west England and south Wales from 12pm until 8am on Friday.

PA

Motorists have been urged to stay at home

On top of these, yellow snow warnings have been issued for vast swathes of southern, central, and northern England, Northern Ireland and Wales - in place for most of Thursday.

Met Office forecaster Simon Partridge said some parts of the south west could see up to 50cm of snow by Friday morning.

He said: "If you don't have to go anywhere over the next few days, stay at home."

Met Eireann, the Irish meteorological service warned of blizzards, severe thunderstorms and coastal flooding after issuing a red alert for the whole of the country.

In response to the impending heavy snow showers all schools, community centres and libraries in Edinburgh will be closed, the city's local authority said.